Post-Lottery Mock Draft

Now that we finally know where the Hornets will be picking, and we’ve had a chance to talk to Dell, let’s take an early look at how this draft might play out on June 28th.

1. New Orleans Hornets- Anthony Davis

Uh, anybody outside of Da Throne want to debate this? Look, as I’ve said all year, this draft was Anthony Davis or bust and thanks to the lucky combo 4967, we got him. Instant difference maker. Won’t waste much space on him here because we will have dozens of posts coming over the next month.

2. Charlotte Bobcats- Andre Drummond

MJ is going to see the ghost of Kwame Brown, but he has to take the risk on the guy who could max out at Dwight Howard. MKG and Beal are nice players, but they aren’t turning that franchise around. Take and develop Drummond and be bad enough next year to take Shabazz.

3. Washington Wizards- Bradley Beal

It wil come down to Beal and Thomas Robinson, but I think Beal wins out as the Wizards find a backcourt mate for John Wall. Add that to Nene and some young guys who showed flashes last year (Vesely, Singleton, etc) and you can have a more talented version of the 76ers in 2-3 years.

4. Cleveland Cavs- Michael Kidd- Gilchrist

MKG is a nice consolation prize for the Cavs who now have a nice young trio to build around. Still a hole at SG, however, which means they could throw the max at Mr. Gordon.

5. Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes

Robinson is the better player but Barnes fills the bigger need. And for those hoping Barnes could fall to the Hornets at #10- if he doesn’t go here, he will go seven to Golden State.

6. Portland Trailblazers- Thomas Robinson

With two lottery picks, the Blazers can take the best guy on the board, and that guy is Thomas Robinson. Put his energy next to Aldridge, who can play center when the Blazers go small and you have a dangerous front court if they keep Batum.

7. Golden State Warriors- Perry Jones III

Warriors need a small forward and Perry Jones thinks he is a small forward. Just seems like a Warriors pick, doesn’t it?

8. Toronto Raptors- Damian Lillard

Toronto would love for Barnes to fall to them, but they will take Lillard here and pair him with their young, foreign front court.

9. Detroit Pistons- Tyler Zeller

Monroe is talented, but lacks some toughness and doesn’t do the dirty work. Enter Tyler Zeller, who will compliment him perfectly.

10. New Orleans Hornets- Austin Rivers

Now I know 99% of you will like someone else here, but as I have said before, I think Rivers is the perfect fit for the Hornets in this situation. He is a gambler on the defensive end, and Davis can cover up the times he misses, and he has that exact type of irrational confidence that great sixth men have in this league. And although he will start on the bench, he will be on the court at the end of games, just like Harden, Manu, and Terry.

Other options-

Kendall Marshall- Davis is going to need easy buckets his first year or two and Marshall would be perfect in that area. Also, his biggest weakness (defense) is negated by Davis.

Terrance Jones- What beter way to make Davis feel at home than to bring along one of his buddies?

Jared Sullinger- Perhaps the most talented guy left on the board. Can they play the 4 and 5 together?

We now have an nba cornerstone and a good 2nd banana (Gordon), which IS THE HARDEST THING TO DO. It reminds me alot of the year San Antonio drafted Duncan. They didn’t suck that year, they were just really injured. Now if you add a good third wheel (Iggy, Gay, Granger) we could have a contender!!!

I can see Rivers and Gordon playing in the backcourt together for long stretches. (Rivers coming off the bench of course but playing the Harden/Manu role)

I’m not sold on either Lillard or Marshall as being anything more than backup PGs anyway.

Only sad part about this draft is we won’t be seeing one of Ayon/Landry/Okafor on our roster next year. Landry seems to be the guy most likely to be going based on what it will cost to keep him money wise. Okafor still has value as a Center next to Davis and I don’t think it is worth using Amesty on him. Ayon is worth keeping around as a low cost bench player.

Love Rivers. Completely disagree with rjktan on Rivers and Gordon playing together, they both are slightly undersized combo guards who need the ball in their hands. I say if we get Rivers, we try to trade Gordon. But that’s just my opinion. Also not really sold on Marshall, but if Lillard is around I would grab him.

I’d also like Perry Jones or (less likely) Harrison Barnes at 10, if they’re available

I agree. and River’s biggest question is his defense. Remember the last undersized scoring guard the Hornets had? Yeah, he got run out of town by Monty, so I think Rivers at #10 isn’t very likely, unless they plan to trade him. I’m sure some team below the Hornets is just in love with him, that might have add some value.

hoping dwill check our team dis offseason…..convince him dell demps dat the opportunity to win and contend is hir in big easy!a dwill and eg backcourt would be sick…pair dem wid davis and we have a championship caliber team in d making….draft rivers and we have r own version of harden

I like Austin Rivers but I have read that he may be uncoachable, and have a bad attitude. Guys like that scare me. And before you say “but he’ll be paired alongside AD” see OKC and Westbrook. Admittedly I haven’t even watched the kid play so please prove me wrong because the prospect sounds awesome.

Man the idea of trading the 10 pick must be very enticing to Dell, as the other posters have noted. To me that’s starting to get to hit-and-miss prospects. That said, if we decide to keep the pick, how about the kid Moultrie from Mississippi State? He’s got raw talent big time, and like I said a lot of our options at that point would be pretty much gambles anyway.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the players you have in the top 9, go on the top 9 in some order. But I don’t see Rivers going to the Hornets; among other things he is too one dimensional offensively (only can consistently drive in college) and is a poor defender. Rivers is a crafty college player; that’s not good enough to ever be more than a back-up in the NBA. Plus Rivers is basically Vasquez #2: too tall/too average an athlete to guard a starting PG and not a good enough scorer to be a SG.

I do see the Hornet’s drafting Marshall, or making a trade where we get back a PG or a pick we can use on a PG. (I still see a quality starting PG as the Hornet’s biggest need.) If not, I see Jones or Sullinger being a Hornet before Rivers. Any of them likely have a better NBA future than Rivers; let alone a better future with the Hornets.

Maybe the Hornets are blowing smoke about Rivers to get teams interested in their 10th pick.

I don’t want him. And I’m sure he doesn’t want us. I think regardless we need to draft a PG because free agency is after the draft so we have to take advantage of the opportunity to draft a PG rather than hoping one will sign with us.

I thought Austin Rivers was a SG, but I say we draft Austin Rivers for some bench power. I think we should keep Omeka and not amnesty him, I mean he is overpaid but he is still a good center. I also want to know if there is a way that we could pick up Derron Williams, I know its unlickly but Im just curious. I think if we stay away from injurys this year the Hornets could be pretty good!

Going against your mock here:
But I want Davis and Zeller…
Zeller isn’t the sexy pick, but he is a solid and athletic big man..
Davis, Zeller,.Smith, and Ayon is a formidable group of Bigs… Extremely cost effective also

This also allows you to amnesty Mek, clearing up cap room to use on building for the future of this team…

I also wouldn’t mind seeing Jack traded… Possibly for a late first round early second pick?? Scott Machado from Iona..

I like Zeller too. And I would like a late first round pick. But I don’t like the idea of getting rid of all of our veteran players and just having a young team. The guys touched on it briefly with Thorpe, about the Hornets having so many young players. It could be disastrous. I think you have to keep at least 2, preferably 3 people out of Ariza, Kaman, Jack, Mek, and Landry. They’re pros and know to how to play in the NBA, which young guys need to learn how to do.

You don’t want to become the next KINGS or WIZARDS by having all young guys and crappy Vets

jmbell

May 30, 2012 at 11:49 pm

agree completely. and bobcats

Jo D

May 31, 2012 at 10:48 am

I’m all for keeping either mek or kaman… Just not at 10+ mil a year… If kaman wants to come back at a lower salary than he had, I would love him back, this allows you to amnesty mek…
Landry is likely out no matter what… I love the guy… He plays hard.. But we currently have Smith, Ayon, and the incoming Davis at the 4 spot… Don’t see room for him, esp at 7-9 mil a year…
a lineup of
GV
EG
Ariza
Davis
Kaman
Would be nice…
Esp with guys like Smith coming off the bench…

I think we are all getting ahead of ourselves with excitement tho…
Who knows what opportunities we will have to improve and change our roster…
I’m sure dealer dell is targeting other vets as we speak….

I can’t wait til training camp to see what the make up of this team looks like…
A lot hinges on that #10 pick
Pg? Sf? C? Trade?

And to teach him the ways of the Stockton-Malone pick & roll. Gordon, if I recall correctly, is one of the most efficient players in the pick and roll according to one of the guys here. Gordon and Davis would be amazing.

not a bad place to start! I say with the addition of Davis, we are officially in WIN NOW MODE. We can afford to keep Okafor, bc our best player is playing on a rookie contract now. What would I love to see??

Monty wouldn’t be able to put up with Mcgee’s antics. LOL. Sure he hustles as hard as the next guy, but his basketball IQ just isn’t up to par. And Philly needs another scorer, and they already have Turner and Young so they probably don’t have much interest in Ariza. I goess they might like Rivers to be another scorer, but now they have Holiday, Turner, Lou Williams and Austin Rivers. Talk about a crowded backcourt. I don’t think they take that trade.

Davis needs a big guy next to him. Now I love the guy, but we really need to amnesty Okafor. He’s just not worth his current price tag and can’y compete on the boards with the really big guys (2010 playoffs anyone?). I would really like Kamen back for cheaper next year but thats unlikely so hopefully we can sign someone like Omer Asik or Louis Amundson.

Also it would be great to trade for a PG upgrade like Lowry or Augestine. Maybe put together a deal with some combination of Jack, Ayon, 10th pick, and Vasquez/Aminu/Henry.

– I’d resign Kaman for less money, and if not able just let him go
– Sadly Landry can’t be resigned. No minutes for him and he’ll cost too much
– I say give Okafor + Davis a year together. Not worth using Amesty on Okafor when Davis will be on a rookie contract anyway. Only reason we give up Okafor is in a trade at this stage
– Seriously explore trades for any package of the 10th pick + Rondo. If not try to use other pieces to get a Lowry lvl player
– Stay away from McGee
– Henry/Aminu/Ayon getting a proper pre-season with Monty
– Ariza to stay on the team